When to plant fruit trees?

sarahkincheloeApril 3, 2012

I'm buying a house in Austin and plan to move in May. I'm trying to find out if I can go ahead and plant some trees in May or wait until the fall/winter.

I've read that it's best to do either a month after the first frost or a month before the last frost... so that would be December or February. Obviously I would not plant anything during the brutal summer but was wondering if May is okay. Of course the nurseries are full of beautiful fruit trees right now, I wonder if they will even have anything in winter?

I imagined planting all kinds of things (peaches, plums, pears, apples, pomegranate) but the 1/10 acre already has 5 HUGE pecan trees (not that I'm complaining...) so maybe it will be good for me to have time to live there and really think about how I want to use my limited space :)

Since you are in 8b, you can get started and go with Anna and Golden Dorsett the main stay for Southern apples. I would only plant one of each unless you have a huge demand. The Anna is a great all round apple for fresh eating and baking. Its pollinator, the Golden Dorsett is a good but not great apple for fresh eating but not for cooking.If any are left at the nursery they will be in pots so you can plant them anytime.